The Menopause Charity
Feeling down, sad and upset can be very common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.
Other psychological symptoms include feelings of low self-esteem, having reduced motivation or interest in things, anxiety and panic attacks, irritability, and mood swings.
Significant shifts in your hormone levels, particularly estrogen, can cause marked changes to how you feel. Research suggests that more than half of all perimenopausal women report an increase in depressive symptoms.
Menopause guidelines are clear that antidepressants should not be used as first-line treatment for the low mood associated with perimenopause and menopause as there is no evidence that they actually help psychological symptoms.
Antidepressants are beneficial for people with clinical depression and can be safely given with HRT.
